Solving a Cube

When Interrogating a Cube

Bennett: Not meaning to break the fourth wall but... see us as actual people?

Rubix: Sad with the reality?

Bennett: I'm leaning towards nauseous instead.

Rubix: People wish you were real. Do you know how many comments I get asking where readers can buy a Jordan?

(Knock on window followed by a muted yell at the other side of the one-way mirror)

Jordan: Sorry ladies but this... (For some reason, there was a strange feeling of knowing he was motioning to himself) is one of a kind.

(Rubix and Bennett rolled their eyes on that)

Rubix: Then there are people who wish the book is a movie? Can you believe that? A movie?

Bennett: Do you want a movie?

Rubix: (Lets out a laugh) Actually, no. I find that movies ruin the book and that the movie will cut off a lot of stuff from the book. Though, I tend to write the book in the form of a sitcom, each chapter an episode.

Bennett: Yeah, maybe a television series can work.

Rubix: (Scoffs) Don't be ridiculous.

Bennett: Hey, you said it.

Rubix: It's not like the book we'll actually go that far...

Bennett: But readers want it. There have been many who suggest you publish the book.

Rubix: ...

Bennett: But you're scared.

Rubix: ...

Bennett: You fear the world, you fear society.

Rubix: ...

Bennett: You're scared of the attacks that will be on the book.

Rubix: ...

Bennett: You know that you can't protect TGGBB once it's out there on paper.

Rubix: ...

Bennett: You're scared the bullying will come back another way.

Rubix: ...

Bennett: Why will you be scared of something like that?

Rubix: I'm not saying that I'm afraid of the critics. I don't mind if they come. They are an obstacle all writers need to face because you need someone to make you see something you refuse to acknowledge, even if it sometimes hurts. But it's not the critics.

Bennett: Then what is it?

Rubix: It's just... The book is special to me. And seeing how I know how bullying goes, all too well, I don't want to see another thing attacked. People will belittle the book, judging a book by its cover, and my hard work will be lost in the sea of words of the people it was trying to fight against. I don't want to be a bystander of my own book, because now I'm able to control what happens. I rather keep it like this, have the readers find the book instead of sending it out there, to the real world.

Bennett: That's selfish and childish thinking.

Rubix: Is it? We both know what bullying is like. Imagine this whole website filled with aspiring writers daring to put up their works and face what comes next. That's brave. Out there in the real world. You don't know what will happen. How they'll react. They'll do what I expect them to do. Judge a book by its cover.